Fisler has alternate seat on LAFCO

Mesa Consolidated Water District board member James Fisler has been appointed to an alternate seat on the Local Agency Formation Commission of Orange County (LAFCO), he confirmed this week.

Fisler’s seating as an alternate is “a full participation seat” in all commission business, although he will only vote on matters if special district members Charley Wilson or John Withers are unable to, he said.

The commission has jurisdiction over each city and special district in Orange County, and it is comprised of a board of seven members: two from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, two representing cities, two representing special districts and one representing the public, according to the OC LAFCO website.

“I will be a voice for Costa Mesa and its residents,” Fisler said. “But, I also consider myself a voting member for all special districts in the county.”

A high priority before the commission now is considering what to do with the unincorporated small “pockets” that exist south of Mesa Drive, he said.

“What we’re tying to do is get rid of overlapping service boundaries and jurisdictions while at the same time promoting orderly growth and preserving open space,” he said.

—Sarah Peters